Electrician&#39;s hand tool



1955 w. w. SCHOENWALD 2,729,996

ELECTRICIAN'S HAND TOOL Filed July 3. 1953 Waldo W. .Schoenwa/d I N V EN TOR.

United States Patent The present invention relates to.s mall hand tools and equivalent implements, generally speaking, and has more particular reference to a readily convertible multipurpose tool which is especially, but not necessarily, designed and, therefore, adapted for handy and practical use by telephone linemen, electricians and the like As will be evident from the drawings and the specification conjointly considered the stated tool is capable of serving in various ways and may be treated as a pair of pliers, a screw driver, a wire cutter, and insulation stripping knife for current-conducting wires, thus providing a uniquestructural entity whose component parts are capable of handy and consolidated use and making it possible to overcome the necessity of owning and handling four or more different or distinct tools.

Briefly summarized, thepreferred embodiment of the tool is characterized by a primary handle, a firstimplement fixed on and projecting beyond one end of said primary handle, an auxiliaryhandle pivotally mounted on said first implement, said auxiliary handle being opposed to and swingable toward and from said primary.

handle and being provided on one end with a second implement opposed to and swingable in a plane toward and from said first implement.

Further novelty is predicated on the aforementioned construction wherein the stated implements each is characterized by a jaw with the two jaws cooperating in proper coplanar alignment and providing a pair of pliers, the other end of the auxiliary handle being merely reduced in cross-section and flattened and suitably tapered to wedge-shaped form so that it has the added function of a screw driver blade.

More specifically, the invention appertains to a multipurpose instrumentality which is singularly unique and is characterized by a primary handle of appreciable crosssection having its outward end centrally and longitudinally bifurcated, the furcations and the intervening space providing a fork-like sheath, a firstimplement embodying a first jawand a shank, the latterin alignment. with and fixedly joined to the outer end of one furcation, an auxiliary handle superimposed against and pivoted to said shank and foldable in part into said sheath, said auxiliary handle having an offset second jaw opposed to, coplanar with and movable toward and from said first jaw, said primary handle having a first recess in one side aligned with and constituting a pocket-like extension of said sheath, said second jaw being wholly foldable into an out-of-the-way position in said extension.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet ofillustrative drawings.

in the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to,

designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure l is a side elevational view of an electricians simplified multipurpose hand tool or instrumentality constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and showing what may be simply identified as a pair of pliers; j t Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same tool w1th the components slightly rearranged and with the auxrhary handle in alignment with the main handle and locked and thus serving as a screw driver;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure seen in Figure 2; Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the transverse. lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction-of the arrows; i Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of the auxiliary handle or screwdriver showing how it may be used for wire bending or twisting purposes.

Referring now to the drawings with reference numerals and lead lines, it will be seen that the over-all tool is characterized by two handle units, broadly speaking, one handle unit being identified as the primary handle and having a jaw equipped member fixed thereon and the other handle unit having a jaw fixed on one end thereof with the jaw portions hinged or pivoted so that they may be swung toward and from each other to function, generally speaking, as a pair of pliers.

More particularly, the primary handle is denoted by the numeral 10 and this takes the form of a stock which may be of either appropriate light-Weight metal or commercial plastics, the same resembling, .in general appearance, What may be recognized as a so-called screw driver handle 12. The outer'end of the handle is forked. More specifically, this is hereinafter described as a handle which is bifurcated, the opposed spaced parallel furcations or fork arms being denoted by the numerals 14 and 16. These arms with the intervening space define what may be conveniently called a sheath. At the inner end or Figure 3 and it is denoted by the numeral 18. There is part of a wire cutter, as at 26.

a similar recess or pocket-like extension on the diametrically opposite or bottom side of the handle which functions as a clearance pocket and is denoted by the numeral 20., An integral complement of the primary handle unit is here designated as an implement. More specifically, this implement comprises a shank 22 (see Figure 3) which is integral with the handle and slightly offset and, therefore, in substantial alignment with the space of the sheath.

This shank has a screw-threaded hole therein and terminates in an aligned jaw 24 which as shown in Figure 1 hasa bevelled portion on its jaw surface defining one The implement, that is, the jaw and shank combined, is unitarily denoted by the numeral 28. Thus, the handle unit 10 is made up of a hand grip or handle which is forked with one of the arms of the fork carrying implement 2S and. with the latter fashioned into a shank 22 and an aligned jaw 24. these being in axial alignment with the sheath.

The other handle unit is denoted generally by the numeral 30 and this is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and overlaps and is consequently superimposed against the shank 22 and cooperates with the jaw 24. One end portion of this unit is fashioned into an auxiliary handle 32 and the other end portion, which is shorter, is fashioned into a jaw 34 which conforms to and cooperates with the jaw 24 and is, therefore, coplanar and aligns therewith in the manner shown the best in Figure 1. This jaw 34 also has a bevelled cutter 26 and the two features 2626 form a wire cutter and the two jaws 34 and 24 form pliers-jaws. The two handles are thus hinged or pivotedand provide -the operating -levers-for= the jaws-1 24 andr34. The pivot takesthe form of a screw the head g of which is. denoted at 38 in FigureS and is desired tension.- Itwill be not-iced -that-the free end of,

the shank at 42 is scre'wed'throu'gh a-holealso provided there'forin-the aforementioned shank 22. Thus, the screw is actually carried by and rotates with the auxiliary handle *32-which hand1e is swingableso that it is allowed to be converted trornfthe'position shown-in Figure *1 to the po-' sition shown in Figures 2 and 3. .As it swings in one direc- .tion, it"tigh'tens the screw in the hole 44 and whenswung in the opposite direction,'it loosens the screw but only very .slightly; ofhcoursen This. ffiniaand fout'screw action between.the parts .servesto'bind themtogether and'to as sist in 'lqckingthemju-the screw driver positionlseen in Figures -2 and-=3 and loosens the'hinged jointwhen the ,plierscome-into play, Theslot 46.(seen'.best in Fig- .u,re: 2) has, anedge portion' chamferedor bevelled and V th slsharpened and -providesa cutting -blade48 whichiis.

used, for stripping t insulation from the. conductor wire LA' asshQWn, for example, inFi'gure .16. The outer end ofthe handle 32 .is bevelled, and wedge-shaped as at. 5 0..and provideswhatis conveniently referredto, as a screw driver.

This also has a hole 52 ,thereinzwhich may beusedby passing the wireB therethrough (as. shown in Figure 7) fifqr purpose of wistin an l hending the wire as. isrequired in looping; wire requirernents by electricians, tele phone linemen and others T hie irisertion of-the wirejn V l i he efl th fi d i enb ade n h turn the, 1 ,blade will make the loop to bewrapped around screws.

T e kn fe e ge. s wa d the a sle he rivet or. .screw "head- When used aspliers, the knif e edgeis shielded by foldinginto the recess means p rov'ided in the ,;aforen1entioned sheath, that is the space 18 between the ,forlgartns 14 and 16., "The tool is locked inoperrpositionjn the "fqfmsotiascrewdriver not only bythe spring tcnsiQDed and-'take up' action of the screw. as brought; out infiigure 5, but also: because oijthe stop shoulder 5,4,p'royided 'by-way-Of-theriUSti' on the, auxi1iary -han'dle32 as shown:

in Fijgu res 4 a nd'7 and againin FigureQBV Wherr the handles are in theposition shown inTFigure, 1, thejaws "24 and134 serve asapairlof pliers. Whnlhelauxiliary handle 32 is in' alignment with theprimaryhandlefm ,an dlatched as shown in Figures 2'andf3ga screw driver is provided.- This is, thereto'r'ega unique utilitytool of a multipurpose'character. v With further referenceto the optional ,s'crewdriver (Figs.2, 'and 4), notelFig; 4 in particular for'her e it will be seen that the shoulder 54 overhangs the jaw-. 24

Novathen, in order to' shift ba'ckjto Tthe I pliers? v the user mustpart the handle 32 by manually forcing it irrim I right to left, 'as at A, against the tension of washer 40.

This clears "the shoulder and affords jth e necessary ,re-

-- lease action, whereuponf32 maynow be swung from left 7 Fig. 1. Y

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further ex- 5 planation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily'occur to those skilled in the art E it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described,

and accordingly all suitablevr riodifications and equiva- 10 lents may ,be resorted;to, falling;within the scope of the appende'd'clainis.

What; isiclairncdas hewisi as. follows '1. A hand tool comprising aprirnary handle of appreciable cross-'se'tion' having'its' outward end centrally and longitudinally bifurcated, the furcations and the intervening space providing a fork-like sheath, a first im plernent embodying a first jaw and a shank, the latter in alignment with and fixedly joined to'theputer end of one furcation, an auxiliaryliandle i'superim'posed against and pivoted to' s'aid -sliank and foldable japan into fsaid'sheath, said auxiliary-handle having an offset second jaw-opposed "to, coplanar with -"and movable toward and from "said first jaw, said primary handle having a first recess in one side .aligne'd-uwith; and constituting a p'ocket-like tension of'said sheath, said second'jaw being wholly foldableinto an out-of-the way positi'oni'in saidextension, and said primary handlevhavingia'second recess in a side opposite to saidfirst/named sideand providing a second extension ofsaid.sheathandasaid'auxiliary'hand1e being foldable 30. in part into said second extension.

"2,; A hand toolrcompris'ing alprimary handle of 'appre ciable cross-section havingiits outward end centrally and longitudinallybifurcated,Lthe.furcations and the intervening sp age providing a; fork-like "sheath, a. first imple- -.;ment, embqdying a first jaw' and a shank, the latter in a gnment withgandjfixedly joinedto the outer end of one v r v on anauxili ar-y handle superimposed against and 'pivotedto said shanlgandjoldable' in part into said sheath, said a'uxi-liary handle having an ofisetsecond jaw opposed l o-flsq ana w h; nd.. zmo ab crf w a d from .said

first jaw, said second jaw being selectively andfully foldable..int9- i sh a hr aid. aux lia y 1 handle having a le t w estonrhaulden sa au l a y handle being also ble to apositionalongside of andinto overlapping the firstjaw 'andone edge of said first leasabl y 'engageable with said stop shoulder, d uxiliarykhandlel mayhe latched and firmly idly fprojecting axial alignment with said r a irrine fii pr thi atent 'UNITED' STATES :PATE'NTS 1,087,565: Andersen;;t. t 'Feb. 17, 1914 7 jFoREIG PATENTS daolsar Canada" Feb. 17, 1953 

